Taking over the Second City during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (May 23 & 24), Birmingham Pride is back bigger, better and badder than ever before with a two-day celebration of all things LGBTQ+. We’re expecting over 75,000 people to attend the annual Pride parade before the party pops off in the Gay Village.
While the parade has always been free, tickets for the two-day party have been creeping up in price to cope with rising costs. This year, prices have been massively cut to make it more accessible in this cost-of-living crisis. Lawrence Barton has also said he intends to make the whole celebration free in 2027.
“In 1997, I attended the first Birmingham Pride; 2027 will be the 30th anniversary,” the Birmingham Pride director said. “I’d love to bring it full circle. In my own mind, I’d love for it to be a free festival. I feel like once that’s done, I think it’ll be my time to then say, we brought it full circle, and I will need to pass the baton on.”
But for now, the focus remains on Birmingham Pride 2026—with a jam-packed line-up spread across Smithfield and the Gay Village, bringing you everything from headline artists to cabaret drag stars, as well as community stalls, food vendors and a fun fair. This is a party not to be missed!
When is the Birmingham Pride parade?
A statement for equality and justice, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s contribution to the city, and a protest against the injustices still plaguing LGBTQ+ people around the world, the parade remains a relevant and vital part of Pride. The Pride parade takes place on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
This vibrant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and community is free for all to attend and will see tens of thousands walking or aboard decorated floats, while more than 75,000 spectators line the street. It will start gathering at Victoria Square in the city centre at 11am and set off towards the LGBTQ+ village at noon, where the street party is.
What about the main festivities?
The main Smithfield Live site will once again be filled with queer icons, top DJs, and drag performers. Just some of the major names include Katy B and Sigala headlining on the Saturday, while Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle is taking over the stage on Sunday. They’re joined by ABBA cover band Björn Again, disco icons Boney M., and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard.
Meanwhile, the legendary Conrad Guest Cabaret Stage will host a slew of the best UK drag talent and cabaret performers, while the Big Top is home to the UK’s top DJs. Plus, the ever-popular Street Party in the Gay Village will be brimming with LGBTQ+ bars and clubs, cabaret, community market stalls, food vendors, live music and more.
How much are tickets?
Last year, tickets for Birmingham Pride started from £73.70, but they’re almost half that cost this time around. A weekend ticket is now only £46.87, while you can grab a day ticket for just £28.95. Low-income tickets offering a 50% discount are also available for those who may otherwise be unable to attend.
To learn more about Birmingham Pride 2026, head here.
